Bergger BRF 400 Plus

Bergger BRF 400+ Film Review

by EveNSteve

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Click on the audio play button to listen to my review of this great classic film!

Bergger BRF 400+ at EI 6400!!!!! A very low light test….. click on the image to see larger.

BRF400+@EI6400
Bergger BRF 400+ at EI 6400!!!

Development as outlined in audio:

1:100 Rodinal at 68-70F 2 Hour Stand Dev

Usable EI from 400-1600

  • Initial agitation for 30 seconds
  • Rest 30 Min
  • Swirl like wine for 10 sec
  • Rest 30 Min
  • Swirl like wine for 10 sec
  • Rest 30 Min
  • Swirl like wine for 10 sec
  • Rest 30 Min
  • Dump and finish process.. Stop/ fix/ clear/ wash/ dry.

1:50 Rodinal at 68-70F 2 Hour Stand Dev

Usable EI from 1000/1600 – 6400+

  • Initial agitation for 30 seconds
  • Rest 30 Min
  • Swirl like wine for 10 sec
  • Rest 30 Min
  • Swirl like wine for 10 sec
  • Rest 30 Min
  • Swirl like wine for 10 sec
  • Rest 30 Min
  • Dump and finish process.. Stop/ fix/ clear/ wash/ dry.

Another great alt developer is Caffenol CL… just google it and follow the directions exactly!!! Usable out to 3200 but the Rodinal version outlined above is better at the higher speeds. And you can see the grain is a bit softer but the tonal range is still crazy great!

Bergger BRF400+ at 1600 Caffenol CL Dev
Bergger BRF400+ at 1600 Caffenol CL Dev

NOTE: I meter my shadows for Zone 4 in most cases… with this film it is VERY important for faster EI’s to meter for the shadows… highlights are not a problem. Here is a video on why meter for Zone 4.

Viva la Revolution- Stephen

Back to Paris… Again

by EveNSteve

So I am heading back to Paris tomorrow provided I can make it to Boston to get my flight!

Paris Bound

On my last trip to Paris 5 weeks ago I shot with the Leica Monochrome exclusively…. on this trip it will be my Leica M4 film cameras exclusively! Hint… my next big article here on FR.

I have also been testing a lot of film and developer combinations the last 5 weeks… a lot! I really like the Bergger BRF 400+ in Caffenol CL and Caffenol CH with EI in CL out to 3200+. Rodinal provides a very crisp negative and Xtol is another good choice at 1:1. Another film I have been testing a lot is Delta 3200 processed in PMK double strength… nice range of tones and usable out to 6400 and perhaps 12,800 with proper shadow metering. Today I am running a test looking at the Delta 3200 in PMK with 1.5 strength as at double the highlights get a bit hot at lower EI’s… I want it all- 400-6400!!!!!! Stay tuned!

Oh and the Bergger BRF400+ in PMK is around 200-400 with a beautiful tonal quality. I have heard many people compare the Bergger  to Tri-X… Yes, but only if you are talking Tri-X from the 1970’s and even then it is more like XX than TX. It is very low contrast film which is a good thing for scanning and has a softer rendering then most modern films… perfect for a classic look. In Diafine it is nice but the grain needs a bit of a kick in PS with some structure and a “S” curve to add depth- in Diafine a usable EI of 1600 is not a problem.

Viva la Revolution- Stephen

Testing Leica Monochrome and Film

by EveNSteve

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I shoot both with the Leica Monochrome and my Leica MP. I find that for lens work the Monochrome is pretty hard to beat especially if you understand the proper Monochrome workflow: most work I see online made with the Monochrome is not done to maximize what the camera is capable of doing. I will post a more in-depth review on the MM in a couple of weeks. Right now, however, my testing is looking at the MM compared to my MP using three different films (Bergger BRF400+, Ilford Delta 3200 and Kodak BW400CN) and my pinhole systems and long exposures at high-speed EI. I have been testing a variety of different developers from Rodinal to Xtol and of course Caffenol. There is just something I like about the Caffenol negatives.

I’ll be posting an in-depth article in a couple of days looking at these films and developers all for the purposes of high-speed use and scanning. Of course this info will be valuable to any low light shooter as well….stay tuned!

Viva la Revolution- Stephen

PS- I did test in Diafine BUT as I am looking for speeds of a solid 1600+ it was not a good choice….